headwinds

Definition of headwindsnext
plural of headwind
as in winds
an air movement that is blowing toward something (such as a ship or an airplane) as it moves forward Stiff headwinds caused the flight to take longer than expected.

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of headwinds Economic headwinds have also been cited, including a period of elevated consumer prices. CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026 Kiley was facing headwinds because of the Republican institutional support that lined up behind McClintock, 69, who has been in Congress since 2009 and served in the state Legislature for 26 years previously. Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026 The war in Iran is adding to a list of headwinds for markets already on edge after fears over disruption from artificial intelligence and pressure in private credit have nearly erased this year’s gains in the S&P 500. Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 2 Mar. 2026 The media business has faced headwinds in recent years, times made even more tough on brands serving niche audiences. Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026 Nikic also said there is also the possibility of foreign exchange headwinds due to the stronger Swiss franc. Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 27 Feb. 2026 Artisan jobs and blue-collar work may be a buoy from the headwinds. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2026 In any midterm year, the president faces political headwinds when delivering State of the Union remarks. Averi Harper, ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026 The company didn’t provide a quarterly breakout, but said the headwinds increased in the second half, after the September release of Meta Ray-Ban Display. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headwinds
winds
Noun
  • The line separating the two is blurry, as both star types experience winds and ejecta before dying.
    Big Think, Big Think, 9 Mar. 2026
  • Later Saturday, the weather service said an initial assessment confirmed that an EF3 tornado with winds of at least 150 mph struck the Union Lake area.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Headwinds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headwinds. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.

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